After a disastrous 2014 MLS campaign, the Montreal Impact came into the 2015 season with the clear intentions to vastly improve their roster, record and even fan support from last year. Without having even started the MLS season, the Montreal Impact’s two draws in the CONCACAF Champions League already gives them more success than from their previous four years in North America’s top league.
In their first competitive match of the 2015 year, the Impact played on the road in Pachuca, Mexico, against the host town’s club in the quarter-finals of the 2014-2015 CONCACAF Champions League. Dilly Duka’s two goals allowed his team to draw against a very competitive team in mid-season form.
The news of the Impact’s success rippled through the city, in the middle of its coldest winter in about 100 years, and 38,104 Montrealers purchased tickets to attend the second leg of the quarter-finals at the indoor Olympic Stadium.
In front of the fifth largest crowd in team history, the Impact fell behind with ten minutes left after a questionable penalty kick awarded to German Cano against Laurent Ciman. The crowd was silent when captain Nigel Reo-Coker was substituted for a relatively unknown youngster by the name of Cameron Porter in the 85th minute. The rookie striker, a 21-year-old from Princeton University, was selected in the third round in this year’s MLS SuperDraft.
After the fourth official signaled for four extra minutes after the 90 minute mark, the Impact put pressure on los Tozos and goalie Oscar Perez, but failed to find the back of the net. Without a calm spectator, Calum Mallace- another substitute – lobed the ball 60 yards down the field right to Porter, who played it off his chest and beat Perez with a toe-kick. The Olympic Stadium exploded into sheer ecstasy and celebrate in a frenzy.
Without a doubt, this was the greatest moment in team history, bigger than the 2-0 CONCACAF Champions League home victory in 2009, bigger than the team’s first MLS goal in club history scored by captain Davy Arnaud in front of 55,000 and bigger than any of the team’s four league championships prior to their entry into the MLS in 2012.
The city of Montreal was rocking on Wednesday morning, talking about the bleu-blanc-noir of the Impact more than the bleu-blanc-rouge of the Montreal Canadiens. The city was in soccer fever, even it was March 4th. President and owner Joey Saputo couldn’t have scripted the game more perfectly and if you ask him, his club has more success in two draws than they have had in their past few seasons. That’s how big Porter’s goal was.
Prior to the opening leg of the quarter-final, Saputo announced only 15,000 tickets were sold and he was questioning whether or not the city was a soccer city. Certainly, soccer isn’t the top sport in Montreal, but with success, the team can draw fans. That’s how Montrealers are, they like champions and will not pay for a lesser product.
After seeing the draw in Mexico, the club sold over 20,000 tickets in a week. Like I said, Montrealers will pay for teams who win. Exhibit A.
The Olympic Stadium is a crummy place to watch any sporting event when empty, but it’s one of the best in the country when filled. Hosting the first leg of the semi-final on March 18 against Alajuelense, expect roughly 50,000 people rocking the stadium. Saputo won’t be questioning his fan support then.
The Impact put on a great product on the field and came out with a fantastic result against Pachuca. Their upcoming MLS road games will be less important to the city but nonetheless, Montrealers will pay attention to their soccer club, especially in the Champions League. With so much success in two games, the club has won over many fans and will ride a wave of support right into the semi-finals and will look for an Impact success.
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